Expanded Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas Development Project, Sweetwater, Lincoln, and Uinta Counties, WY; Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[WY-040-05-1310-01]

Expanded Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas Development Project,

Sweetwater, Lincoln, and Uinta Counties, WY; Availability of Final

Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Lead Agency--Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Cooperating

Agencies--Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife

Service; Agriculture, Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability

of the Expanded Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas Development Project Final

EIS. The draft EIS was released April 14, 1995, for a 60-day public

review. Over 300 copies of the draft EIS were issued and 23 comment

letters were received. Some comments received expressed concern that

the analysis of cumulative effects of mineral development on the non-

mineral resources of southwestern Wyoming was lacking, including

wildlife, and air quality; some felt a regional, cumulative EIS should

be prepared before any further development is authorized; and some felt

land use changes would occur causing industrialization of southwest

Wyoming. The final EIS contains a cumulative air quality analysis

addendum to the draft EIS and Errata addressing all concerns expressed

by commentors.

DATES: Comments on the final EIS will be accepted for 30 days following

the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes their

Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA notice is

expected to be published on June 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the final EIS should be sent to Bureau of Land

Management, Bill McMahan (Project Coordinator), 280 Highway 191 North,

Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Moxa Arch Operators (Amoco Production

Company, Union Pacific Resources Company, Wexpro/Celsius Energy

Company, Bannon Energy, Marathon Oil Company, Presidio Exploration, and

other companies) propose to continue to infill drill additional

development wells in their leased acreage within the Moxa Arch oil and

gas development area (approximately 476,261 acres) of southwestern

Wyoming. The expanded area, combined with the lands analyzed in two

previous environmental analysis documents, forms the Expanded Moxa Arch

Natural Gas Development (Moxa) analysis area.

Collectively, the Moxa Operators' proposal would continue to infill

drill in the Moxa natural gas field, where 957 wells are presently

active and up to 1,325 additional wells could be drilled over the next

10 years. The Moxa Operators' plans and drilling schedules would be

contingent upon both an increased demand for natural gas supplies in

response to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and an adequate price

for the gas at the wellhead.

The Moxa Arch EIS analyzes the impacts of the Proposed Action--

which would allow up to 1,325 new wells, Alternative A--which would

allow up to 795 new wells (530 fewer than the Proposed Action), and

Alternative B--the No Action Alternative. The draft and final EIS

impact analysis focuses on the resource issues and concerns identified

during public scoping and in response to comments received on the draft

EIS. This draft EIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered

Species Act (as amended), includes the Biological Assessment for the

purpose of identifying any endangered or threatened species which are

likely to be affected by the proposed action.

Dated: June 6, 1996.

Alan L. Kesterke,

Associate State Director.

[FR Doc. 96-15579 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-84-P